Gun Dog Forum

Do any of you keep a hunting diary or log? I thought we could share some of our best hunts and tell other how we did in the 2005 season.

West Central Minnesota had some of the best pheasant hunting in years. I keep a hunting log for the fist time this year and plan to keep doing it for year to come just so I can make comparisons from year to year and to help me remember where I got the big birds. I only got out 10 time this season and all on public land. I did real well bagging 19 birds. I had them smoked at a local meat market and boy are they tasty.

Terry

Terry, this is something I've always talked about doing, but have'nt yet. That will be my New Years resolution..to keep a hunting log every year from now on.


Rick

I've been kepping them for 6 years now, its the best thing I ever did. It keeps names, dates, weather and bird contacts handy for future reference. Paws

4 paws...I'll bet it makes a good read too on a late winter evening.. when all the seasons have closed. (Sitting by a warm fire of course..with a fine beverage).


Rick

Takes you back to that exact moment in time funny how the mind works, just like a cam corder.........but better. It actually isnt the winter that is so bad ...still huntin', its the summer that kills me. Paws

I'm a high school teacher...everything is written in my lesson plan book...not only lesson plans, but also my hunting log.

That way I'll see it next year.

Are you guys that do hunting logs making your own or are you using a store bought version? If a store version where do you get it? If your own, care to share the format?

Like Terry I keep a hunting log to. I also include things like what shotgun I was using and how many shots I took on each trip. Sometimes I include a picture or two of the day or hunt.
I bought a blank journal from Barnes & Noble which I use.

I had a log I bought from GunDog magazine 20 years ago, but I can't find it, it was perfect.
When you open it the left page had sections
Where did you hunt
Who did you hunt with
what did you hunt
what kind of guns
what kind of dogs
number of points_ flushs_ retrieves_
The right page was a blank page to explain more about the hunt.
Wish I could find that it has a lot of good memories about my Goldens.

I've kept one since I started hunting so I feel I can't stop now!

I made one that I keep in a three-ring binder for the year. I transfer that one to a larger binder at the end of the season that contains all the years.

Here's what mine looks like:

Date:

Location:


Public Private Walk-In Preserve Other:_______________

Species: Pheasant Quail Grouse ______ Other:_______________

Hours Hunted:

Dog(s) Hunted:

Points:


Backs:


Singles_____ Pointed_____ Wild Flush_____

Coveys_____ Size______ Species______________ Pointed_____ Wild Flush_____

Shots_____

Hits_____

Downed_____

Retrieves:


Recovered_____

Temperature_____ Wind Speed_____ Wind Direction_____ Humidity_____

Notes:

Hi parshal,

That looks like a great format. I'm thinking about keeping my journal on my computer. I have thought about keeping a blog about our hunts but then it may get out where my secrete honey holes are.

Terry

I have a book that I have broken down by general areas I hunt. That way all I need to do is open the book up to the part of the state I am hunting and I can check my scouting notes, hunting log, area numbers and emergency contacts. I also put pics of cover types and coverts I really don't want to forget. I also have the master code for all of my GPS coordinates inside the book. the GPS coordinates and hunting log are updated a few times per season on my computer and I just print those out and attach them into the book so I can keep updating them. As long as I don't forget the book at home I am alright.

Hi Tecumseh,

I have been thinking about getting a GPS. I think it would be great for hunting, fishing and back country hiking.

Terry

sweetsong wrote:I'm thinking about keeping my journal on my computer.

I've been planning on putting that log into excel and have different cells to search on in the future. I figured I could have one file for each year and create a worksheet for each day hunted that year. Lots of possibilities.

Ssomething I say I am always going to do but never get a round tuit.

I actually just bought a hunting log I found at Bass Pro a few months ago.
I am looking forward to using it every time out this fall.


Mav.....